Add a window to a shear wall?

[ivwshane]

I have an exterior load bearing wall that is a shear wall (constructed via 2x4's with diagonal 1x6 bracing and stucco on the exterior). I would like to add a 2'x4' window, how do I do this while maintaining the shear rating?


I'm in California if that matters.

[pelligrini]

You probably still need to run it by a proper structural engineer, but I would think that adding structural sheathing with a good fastening pattern on the inside of the wall should be good. Probably want to take off the sheetrock on the inside and then rock over it once you have the plywood in place. That would be a whole lot easier than taking off the stucco.

You might not need to do anything either. Is the stucco put on over sheathing? It it real stucco (not EIFS)?

[chopnhack]

Being he is California I doubt the stucco over lathe would contribute much towards the seismic codes, IMHO...I 2nd the engineer. It looks like it might be an unfortunate but necessary expense.

[ivwshane]

The egineer will be coming tomorrow but I wanted to get a general idea of how to make this happen or if it is even possible.

[Tom Slick]

Framed correctly and the sheathing nailed correctly you shouldn't have a problem.

[pelligrini]

Being he is California I doubt the stucco over lathe would contribute much towards the seismic codes, IMHO...I 2nd the engineer. It looks like it might be an unfortunate but necessary expense.

I'm not too familiar with doing any seismic designs either. We don't have to deal with it too much around here.

I would think that a real stucco installation would contribute some structural stability. If it's done with the metal lathe screwed into plywood sheathing (albeit short screws) a 1" thick panel of concrete would help some. I don't know how much, or even if it could be used in the calcs, but I think it would contribute.

[ivwshane]

Unfortunately there is no plywood sheathing underneath the stucco

[Tom Slick]

Are the 1x6's butted to each other or skip?

Think about the fact that not that long ago nails with wire connecting them was considered "shear".

[ivwshane]

Are the 1x6's butted to each other or skip?

Think about the fact that not that long ago nails with wire connecting them was considered "shear".

Skipped. The 1x6 spans maybe 4 studs.